KARACHI:
The withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan has left the country at the brink of civil war. If the condition spirals out of control, it will severely impact the entire region. Pakistan will bear the brunt of the conflict given its proximity to the war-torn nation. Some 700,000 refugees are expected to immigrate to Pakistan if tensions between the Afghan forces and the Taliban persist.
Considering that 2.8 million Afghan refugees are already residing in Pakistan for years, a new influx of refugees is a cause for serious concern. Countries like Iran, Russia, and other central Asian states have restricted Afghan immigrants to camps. However, in Pakistan, the immigrants are free to move around, which has caused several issues. They have become a burden on the economy and have created disturbances in urban cities, as per local officials. The new influx of immigrants will further exacerbate our country’s socio-economic woes. Terrorists might find safe sanctuaries under the guise of immigrants, which could jeopardise the security and stability of the state. And signs of resurgent extremists have begun to appear here at home.
Therefore, in the wake of changing dynamics on our Western front, security must be amplified to prevent any sort of mishap. Fencing the border is a step in the right direction that must be completed to halt the cross-border movement of illegal immigrants. Moreover, with the withdrawal of foreign forces, the so-called war on terror is over now. There is no justification to keep the Afghan citizens here anymore. So, steps should also be taken to send them back to their homeland.
Abdul Hafeez Jatoi
Saleh Baghal
Published in The Express Tribune, August 6th, 2021.
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